Israel's Knesset Overwhelmingly Votes Against Palestinian Statehood

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Israeli Parliament or Knesset voted to pass a resolution rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state on Thursday, July 18, 2024. This rejection came ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington to address the United States Congress.

Parties from Netanyahu's coalition and right-wing extremist parties from the opposition, including Benny Gantz's State Camp party, co-sponsored the resolution. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, one of Israel's extremist figures, said in the Knesset, "The Palestinian State cannot be established because there is no such thing as a Palestinian people."

Knesset members from the left-wing Yesh Atid party led by opposition leader Yair Lapid left the hall to avoid voting on the resolution, despite the party taking a strict position in favor of a “two-state solution.”

Israel's Labor Party, Ra'am, and Hadash-Ta'al were the only parties that did not support the measure.

Earlier in February, the Knesset passed a resolution rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state. However, the motion specifically addresses the unilateral creation of the state without Israel's consent.

This time, the measure takes a more drastic content, as it directly rejects the establishment of a Palestinian state.

“The Knesset of Israel firmly opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state west of Jordan. The establishment of a Palestinian state in the heart of the Land of Israel will pose an existential danger to the State of Israel and its citizens, perpetuate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and destabilize the region," the resolution stated.

“Promoting the idea of a Palestinian state at this time will be a reward for terrorism and will only encourage Hamas and its supporters to see this as a victory, thanks to the massacre of October 7, 2023, and a prelude to the takeover of jihadist Islam in the Middle East,” it added, as quoted from Al Mayadeen. 

The vote unequivocally demonstrated the Israeli settler society’s widespread rejection of Palestinian statehood. This effectively undermines the United States' efforts to portray Israel as a proponent of peace and portray Palestinian factions as obstacles to a two-state solution.

It also highlights that Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right allies’ views are not restricted to his coalition, but also represent center-leaning political parties, especially on issues related to Palestine.

Armed with the resolution, Netanyahu will travel to the US on July 24, confidently reaffirming Israel's stance on a Palestine state despite repeated calls for a “two-state solution.”

AL MAYADEEN | TIMES OF ISRAEL

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